6 years on, Arki land losers disbursed relief after apex court order

Six years after the award for acquisition of their land was passed by the state government, several land losers received their dues of Rs 3.73 crore from SDM Arki today following apex court directions issued yesterday to pay the same within 48 hours.

The state government had acquired 56 bigha land in Bhalag village in Arki tehsil for setting up a safety zone for the Jay Prakash Associates (JPA) cement plant and its notification was issued in the year of 2009. But award of some structures comprising houses could not be passed. The award of land was passed in 2018.

The landowners comprising six farmers approached the state high court in 2019 contending that the state government has not paid compensation of the houses and structures acquired for setting up a safety zone for JPA cement plant. The High court allowed the petition but Ultra Tech Cement, which had acquired the JP Cement by then, filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court stating that they were not liable to pay for this land as it did not figure in their terms and conditions while taking over the JPA’s cement plant.

The apex court directed the state government to make the payment to farmers with 9 per cent interest and liberty was given to the state to recover it from JPA on September 20, 2024.

The state government, however, filed an application for modification of the order with a request to recover the amount from Ultra Tech cement as the JPA has been declared insolvent by the national company law tribunal on July 6, 2024. The Supreme Court rejected government’s contention and directed the state government yesterday to make the payment within 48 hours.

The court also made it clear that if the payment was not made within 48 hours the state government would be held guilty of contempt.

Though the state government expressed its apprehension that they will not be in a position to recover the amount from either of the two companies the court stated it is for the state government to decide on this.

Acceding to the orders, SDM Arki Yadvinder Pal confirmed that payment of Rs 3,73 crore has been made to the concerned land losers today.

The amount ranging from Rs 1.63 lakh to Rs 71 lakh has been paid to them.